KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Wishes, plans, and choices

Vます + に行く／に来る

Marks an action as the purpose of movement

Meaning

Marks an action as the purpose of movement.

Formation

  1. Drop ます and add に + 行く / 来る / 帰る: 見ます → 見に行く
  2. An action noun goes without a stem: 買い物に行く

When to use it

Core use
Marks an action as the purpose of movement

Examples

13 sentences

  • 映画えいがを見みに行きいきます

    I will go to see a film.

  • 友だちともだちが遊びあそびに来きました

    A friend came over to visit.

  • 仕事しごとの後あと、プールへ泳ぎおよぎに行きますいきます

    After work I go to the pool to swim.

  • 高いたかい山やまに登りのぼりに行きいきます

    I am going out to climb a high mountain.

  • 大きなおおきな川かわで泳ぎおよぎに行きいきます

    I am going out to swim in a large river.

  • 博物館はくぶつかんへ昔むかしの道具どうぐを見みに行きいきます

    I will go to the museum to see old tools.

  • デパートへ浴衣ゆかたを買いかいに行きいきます

    I will go to the department store to buy a yukata.

  • うちへ昼ご飯ひるごはんを食べたべに帰りかえります

    I am going home to have lunch.

5 more examples

  • 郵便局ゆうびんきょくへ切手きってを買いかいに行きいきます

    I will go to the post office to buy stamps.

  • 図書館としょかんへ日本語にほんごの本ほんを借りかりに行きいきます

    I will go to the library to borrow a book in Japanese.

  • 家いえへ傘かさを取りとりに帰りかえりました

    I went back home to get my umbrella.

  • 友達ともだちが辞書じしょを借りかりに来きました

    A friend came to borrow my dictionary.

  • 古いふるい切手きってを集めあつめに行きいきます

    I am going out to collect old stamps.

Important notes

  • The ます stem + に before 行く, 来る or 帰る names the purpose of the movement: 本を買いに行く. The destination takes へ or に: 図書館へ本を借りに行く.

Common mistakes

  • Use the stem, not the dictionary form: 買いに行く, not 買うに行く. The place where the purpose happens can take で instead: 川で泳ぎに行く.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. 郵便局ゆうびんきょくへ切手きってを買いかいに行きいきます
  2. 家いえへ傘かさを取りとりに帰りかえりました
  3. 古いふるい切手きってを集めあつめに行きいきます

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